CHAPTER XXIII

OnoneofCissy’swakefulnights,shetoldValancyherpoorlittlestory.Theyweresittingbytheopenwindow.Cissycouldnotgetherbreathlyingdownthatnight.AningloriousgibbousmoonwashangingoverthewoodedhillsandinitsspectrallightCissylookedfrailandlovelyandincrediblyyoung.Achild.Itdidnotseempossiblethatshecouldhavelivedthroughallthepassionandpainandshameofherstory. “Hewasstoppingatthehotelacrossthelake.Heusedtocomeoverinhiscanoeatnight—wemetinthepinesdowntheshore.Hewasayoungcollegestudent—hisfatherwasarichmaninToronto.Oh,Valancy,Ididn’tmeantobebad—Ididn’t,indeed.ButIlovedhimso—Ilovehimyet—I’llalwayslovehim.AndI—didn’tknow—somethings.Ididn’t—understand.Thenhisfathercameandtookhimaway.And—afteralittle—Ifoundout—oh,Valancy,—Iwassofrightened.Ididn’tknowwhattodo.Iwrotehim—andhecame.He—hesaidhewouldmarryme,Valancy.” “Andwhy—andwhy?——” “Oh,Valancy,hedidn’tlovemeanymore.Isawthatataglance.He—hewasjustofferingtomarrymebecausehethoughtheoughtto—becausehewassorryforme.Hewasn’tbad—buthewassoyoung—andwhatwasIthatheshouldkeeponlovingme?” “Nevermindmakingexcusesforhim,”saidValancyabitshortly.“Soyouwouldn’tmarryhim?” “Icouldn’t—notwhenhedidn’tlovemeanymore.Somehow—Ican’texplain—itseemedaworsethingtodothan—theother.He—hearguedalittle—buthewentaway.DoyouthinkIdidright,Valancy?” “Yes,Ido.Youdidright.Buthe——” “Don’tblamehim,dear.Pleasedon’t.Let’snottalkabouthimatall.There’snoneed.Iwantedtotellyouhowitwas—Ididn’twantyoutothinkmebad——” “Ineverdidthinkso.” “Yes,Ifeltthat—wheneveryoucame.Oh,Valancy,whatyou’vebeentome!Ican